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Iodine: the smart mineral

Iodine deficiency is the world’s most prevalent, yet easily preventable, cause of brain damage and lower IQs, says the World Health Organization (WHO) - and it ranks Australia in its list of countries with known iodine deficiencies.

The alarming inclusion of Australia on the list of iodine-deficient countries has been backed up by the release of research results in Australia which has found that iodine deficiency rates in newborns was significant and rising. This follows other Australian studies that have found that many school-age children in Australia were iodine deficient as were at least half of pregnant women.

Why is iodine so important?

Iodine is an essential nutrient that humans need in very small quantities.

In essence, iodine has one major function – that is to help the thyroid, a gland in the neck, produce hormones. And these hormones are vital because they ensure normal development of the brain and nervous system before birth, in babies and young children.

According to WHO, the extreme result of iodine deficiency during fetal development is cretinism, but much more common – and therefore very alarming – are the subtle degrees of mental impairment caused when babies in utero and the early years don’t get enough iodine.

“Iodine-deficient communities have been found to score 10-15 points lower on IQ tests than iodine-replete ones,” says WHO, adding that the result of this showing up in poor school performance, reduced mental ability and restricted capacity to work.

Why are Australians deficient in iodine?

In the past, iodised salt was widely used, particularly in the dairy industry which used iodine to sterilise milk containers.

Today, we eat less salt and the salt we do eat tends not to be iodised. Also the dairy industry has now switched to chlorine-based cleaning products. The salt used in food manufacture is also usually non-iodised.

How much iodine is needed?

A teaspoon of iodine is all a person needs in a lifetime but because iodine cannot be stored for long periods by the body, very small amounts are required regularly.

The actual recommended daily intake in micrograms (mcg) across the age groups is:

IMPORTANT! Iodine and pregnant and breastfeeding women

Because iodine is so vital for the brain development of unborn and newborn babies, it’s crucial that pregnant and breastfeeding women get their recommended daily intake of iodine.

Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that women who are pregnant have 220mcg of iodine per day and women who are breastfeeding should have 270mcg per day. WHO recommends pregnant and breastfeeding women take a daily oral iodine supplement, available from chemists, to boost their intake.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to top up their dietary iodine intake because of the increased requirements during pregnancy and breastfeeding and the likelihood that they won’t get enough from their diet.

Let them eat (iodine-fortified) bread

In 2009 the Australian Government introduced mandatory iodine fortification in the manufacturing of bread. The rules are all breads which contain salt – except those represented as organic – must use iodised salt.

The goal is that through this mandatory fortification most of the Australian population, including women of child-bearing age, should be getting enough iodine. However, the iodine in bread does not meet the additional needs of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

As a guide, two slices of bread provide about 60mcg of iodine.

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This article was written by Fiona Baker for Kidspot, Australia’s best family health resource. Sources include World Health Organisation, Medical Journal of Australia and National Health and Medical Research Council.

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